System

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a system for monitoring the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation including a plurality of waveguides (e.g. planar waveguides) assembled into a laminate structure and to an assembly incorporating the system together with a source of the electromagnetic radiation such as in a multiplexer (e.g. a dense wavelength division multiplexer).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is an application filed under 35 U.S.C. 371 fromApplication filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, Application No.PCT/GB02/0011699, International Filing Date: 17 Apr. 2002, and claimspriority from United Kingdom Patent Application No. 0112046.8, filed 17May 2001.

FEDERAL RESEARCH STATEMENT

(Not applicable)

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system for monitoring the wavelengthof electromagnetic radiation including a plurality of waveguides (e.g.planar waveguides) assembled into a laminate structure and to anassembly incorporating the system together with a source of theelectromagnetic radiation such as in a multiplexer (e.g. a densewavelength division multiplexer).

With the deployment of dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) inthe optical fibre communications network there is an increasingrequirement for measurement, calibration and stabilisation of thewavelength channels used. The spacing between channels is becomingincreasingly narrow. In the telecommunications “C” band (for example),there is a move towards 50 GHz spacing of the channels (approximately0.4 nm around 1550 nm). These densely spaced wavelength channels may bemultiplexed with other more widely spaced wavelength channels such as achannel at 1300 nm and further DWDM channels extending from 1620 nmtowards 1485 nm are expected in the future.

Lasers must remain frequency stabilised. These require a feedback loopthat can provide an error signal to the tuning circuit when thefrequency strays. In conventional systems, this may be achieved byplacing the laser adjacent to a Fabry Perot cavity of the appropriatelength. If the output wavelength fluctuates, a photodiode monitors achange in transmitted power and adjusts the wavelength accordingly torestore the original power. A disadvantage of this system is that thelaser output power may itself fluctuate giving false indications ofwavelength shift.

Commercial assemblies that can monitor the wavelength of a laser diodewith an accuracy of ±0.0003 nm (0.3 pm) are available (BurleighInstruments) but these are designed to calibrate lasers duringmanufacture and to monitor wavelengths on an optical fibre circuit.There is a facility to track changes in the output wavelength of lasersources with updates to this information every second. However theseinstruments cost around £25,000 and are impractical for widerimplementation in the telecommunications network.

Integrated optical assemblies that spatially resolve individualwavelengths of light have been widely described. These generally involvethe use of diffraction grating structures patterned onto the opticalsubstrate. Such assemblies can be used to analyse the spectral contentof the input beam (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,016,197; U.S. Pat. No. 4,761,048;U.S. Pat. No. 5,066,126; DE-A-4420074; DE-A-4209672; Takada, IEEE Phot.Tech. Lett., 11, 863, (1999); Tcheremiskin, Electronics Lett., 33, 1952,(1997); Masden et al, IEEE J. Selected Topics in Quant. Electr., 4, 925,(1998); Valette et al, IEEE Proc. 131, 325, (1984)). The use of opticalfibers to form a source stabilizer is known (U.S. Pat. No. 5,381,230)and Kunz et al in Optics Letters, 20, 2300, (1995) have described anintegrated optical wavelength analyzer chip.

Pandruad et al (J. Lightwave Tech., 17, 2336, (1999)) describe thenormalised expressions that allow a designer to achieve zero dispersiondifference between the two modes of a dual mode integrated opticalassembly and have contributed to a report on the optimisation ofdispersion in the context of a wavelength meter (Opt. Commun., 163, 278(1999)). The latter refers to a spiral waveguide whose propagationdistance of light depends on refractive index contrast between core andcladding. This effect is well known and is described in terms of bendinglosses. In the description of wavelength shift measurement, it isproposed that by designing the waveguide to be of high dispersion, anychanges in wavelength show up as a change in propagation distancemeasured using outscattered light from the waveguide.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention seeks to improve wavelength monitoring byexploiting a waveguide structure (e.g. a planar waveguide structure)advantageously sensitive to the direction and magnitude of a wavelengthshift of a source of electromagnetic radiation (e.g. a laser). Moreparticularly, the invention relates to a system for monitoring (e.g.measuring continuously or controlling) the wavelength of incidentelectromagnetic radiation which is insensitive to fluctuations in thepower of the electromagnetic radiation and which may be constructed atlow cost with very simple packaging. The invention would be particularlysuited to monolithic integration with a semiconductor diode laser.

Thus viewed from one aspect the present invention provides a system formonitoring the wavelength of incident electromagnetic radiationcomprising:

-   -   a plurality of waveguides assembled into a laminate structure,        said plurality of waveguides including: a first waveguide        capable of exhibiting a first measurable response to a change in        the wavelength of the incident electromagnetic radiation and a        second waveguide capable of exhibiting a second measurable        response to the change in the incident electromagnetic        radiation, wherein the first measurable response is different to        the second measurable response; and    -   a measuring means for measuring the first measurable response        and/or the second measurable response or the first measurable        response relative to the second measurable response.

The waveguides may be channel or planar waveguides. By “planarwaveguide” is meant a waveguide which permits propagation of incidentelectromagnetic radiation in any arbitrary direction within a plane.Preferably the planar waveguides are slab waveguides.

Preferably the measuring means is adapted to measure the firstmeasurable response relative to the second measurable response. Relativemeasurements advantageously have a lower uncertainty value than absolutemeasurements due to the limited precision with which the measuring means(e.g. the diode array) may be positioned.

The measuring means is preferably adapted to measure the firstmeasurable response and/or the second measurable response or the firstmeasurable response relative to the second measurable response in theform of an interference pattern. The interference pattern may begenerated in the far field when the output electromagnetic radiationfrom the first and second planar waveguide is coupled into free space.

In a preferred embodiment, the dispersion characteristics (i.e. thechange in the effective refractive index of the propagating mode vs.wavelength) of the first waveguide mode are of different magnitude tothe dispersion characteristics of the second waveguide mode. Adifference in the magnitude of the dispersion characteristics of thefirst and second waveguide modes leads to a difference in their responseto a change in the wavelength of incident electromagnetic radiationwhich may be measured.

The system of the invention in this embodiment may exploit thedifference in the dispersion characteristics of the first and secondwaveguide to provide an interference condition between two propagatingmodes that is sensitive to small changes in wavelength. The measurableresponse of the first waveguide to a change in the wavelength relativeto the measurable response of the second waveguide to the change in thewavelength manifests itself as movement of the fringes in theinterference pattern. Thus the measuring means is preferably adapted tomeasure the first measurable response relative to the second measurableresponse as a movement of fringes in the interference pattern.

Movement of the fringes in an interference pattern may be measured in aconventional manner (see for example WO-A-98/22807) either using asingle detector which measures changes in the intensity ofelectromagnetic radiation or a plurality of such detectors which monitorthe change occurring in a number of fringes or in the entireinterference pattern. The one or more detectors may comprise one or morephotodetectors. Where more than one photodetector is used this may bearranged in an array e.g. a two-dimensional photodiode array (or thelike).

In a preferred embodiment, a dielectric property (e.g. the effectiverefractive index) of the first waveguide is of different magnitude tothe dielectric property of the second waveguide. A difference in themagnitude of a dielectric property of the first and second waveguideleads to a difference in their response to a change in the wavelength ofincident electromagnetic radiation (i.e. a difference in thetransmission of the incident electromagnetic radiation) which may bemeasured.

The measuring means may be adapted to measure a change in the power ofthe output electromagnetic radiation of the first waveguide and/or achange in the power of the output electromagnetic radiation of thesecond waveguide or a change in the power of the output electromagneticradiation of the first waveguide relative to a change in the power ofthe output electromagnetic radiation of the second waveguide.

An embodiment of the system of the invention further comprises:

-   -   calculating means for calculating the phase shift of the        incident electromagnetic radiation in the first waveguide        relative to the phase shift of the incident electromagnetic        radiation in the second waveguide (“the relative phase shift”)        from the movement of the fringes in the interference pattern. It        will be understood that the phase shift may equally be expressed        as a change in effective refractive index (and the relative        phase shift as a difference in the change in effective        refractive index).

The change in the wavelength of the incident electromagnetic radiationmay be calculated from the relative phase shift.

In a preferred embodiment, the system of the invention furthercomprises: generating means for generating an adjustment signaldependent on the measured first measurable response and/or the measuredsecond measurable response or on the measured first measurable responserelative to the second measurable response (or on the phase shift orrelative phase shift calculated therefrom). Particularly preferably thesystem further comprises: an applying means for applying the adjustmentsignal to the source of incident electromagnetic radiation whereby torestore the wavelength of the incident electromagnetic radiation. Byincorporating the laminate structure in a feedback circuit together withthe generating means and applying means, the invention may providefrequency stabilisation to the source of electromagnetic radiation towithin 1 GHz or less.

The generating means may be for example a comparator for generating anadjustment signal dependent on the magnitude and/or direction of themeasured first measurable response and/or the measured second measurableresponse or the measured first measurable response relative to thesecond measurable response (or the phase shift or relative phase shiftcalculated therefrom).

The applying means may be a temperature controller such as athermo-optic tuning device.

The laminate structure may be generally of the multi-layered typedisclosed in WO-A-98/22807. The “sensing” waveguide may be isolated fromthe environment by a capping layer. By assembling the plurality ofwaveguides into a laminate structure, the system of the invention issimple to fabricate and fault tolerant in terms of construction errors.In a preferred embodiment, each of the plurality of waveguides in thelaminate structure is built onto a substrate (e.g. of silicon) throughknown processes such as PECVD or LPCVD. Such processes are highlyrepeatable and lead to accurate manufacture. Intermediate transparentlayers may be added (e.g. silicon dioxide) if desired. Preferably eachwaveguide is fabricated to allow equal amounts of electromagneticradiation to propagate by simultaneous excitation of the guided modes inthe laminate structure. Typically the laminate structure is of athickness in the range. 0.2-10 microns.

In order to render the dispersion characteristics of the first waveguidedifferent to the second waveguide, the laminate structure may befabricated with dimensional and/or compositional asymmetry. The abilityto precisely tailor the dimension and/or composition of waveguidesassembled into a laminate structure renders the laminate structuresensitive to wavelength changes but (due to the otherwise highcompositional symmetry) insensitive to temperature fluctuations therebyadvantageously simplifying the associated packaging.

Thus in an embodiment of the system of the invention the first andsecond waveguide differ in their composition and/or dimension (e.g.thickness). Dimensional and/or compositional asymmetry is readilyachieved in accordance with familiar fabrication methods such as CVD(e.g. PECVD, LPCVD, etc). In this way (for example), the intrinsicrefractive index of a silicon oxynitride planar waveguide (at a constantthickness) may be selected at any level in the range 1.457 to 2.008.

Preferably the first and second waveguide differ in their dimension(e.g. differ in their thickness).

Preferably the laminate structure is fabricated onto a silicon substrateand consists essentially of a first planar waveguide located above andspaced apart from a second planar waveguide by an intermediate silicondioxide layer. Particularly preferably the laminate structure furtherconsists essentially of a capping layer to isolate the first planarwaveguide from the environment.

In an embodiment of the system of the invention, the first and/or secondplanar waveguide is composed of silicon oxynitride or silicon nitride.

In an embodiment of the system of the invention, the first and secondplanar waveguide are composed of compound semiconductor materials.

In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of waveguides and the measuringmeans are assembled onto a common substrate (typically a common siliconor indium phosphide substrate).

Viewed from a further aspect the present invention provides an assemblycomprising:

-   -   an electromagnetic radiation source; and    -   a system as hereinbefore defined whereby the electromagnetic        radiation source is adapted to propagate incident        electromagnetic radiation into the first and second waveguide of        the laminate structure.

Electromagnetic radiation generated from an electromagnetic radiationsource such as a laser may be propagated into the laminate structure ina number of ways. In a preferred embodiment, the electromagneticradiation source is adapted to propagate incident electromagneticradiation into the end face of the laminate structure (this is sometimesdescribed as “an end firing procedure”).

Preferably the electromagnetic radiation source (e.g. laser) isintegrated with the laminate structure on the common substrate(typically a common silicon or indium phosphide substrate).

The assembly may further comprise propagating means for substantiallysimultaneously propagating incident electromagnetic radiation into thefirst and second waveguide. For example, one or more coupling gratingsor mirrors may be used. A taper coupler rather than a coupling gratingor mirror may be used to transfer incident electromagnetic radiationbetween the waveguides. Particularly preferably, the amount ofelectromagnetic radiation propagated into the first waveguide and intothe second waveguide is effectively equal.

An embodiment of the assembly of the invention further comprises one ormore optical fibres operatively connected to the system and to theelectromagnetic source. The one or more optical fibres may beoperatively connected to the system in a conventional manner (e.g. by afibre pigtail). The one or more optical fibres may be part of an opticalfibre network such as a multichannel network e.g. a multiplexingmultichannel network such as a dense wavelength division multiplexingmultichannel network (e.g. in an optical fibre communications network).

The assembly may further comprise polarising means for orienting (e.g.plane polarising) the incident electromagnetic radiation. The assemblymay further comprise a lens or similar micro-focussing means forfocussing the incident electromagnetic radiation.

Both the TE (transverse electric) and the TM (transverse magnetic)excitation modes may be used sequentially to excite the laminatestructure. In this sense, the assembly further comprises: a firstelectromagnetic radiation source for propagating TM mode electromagneticradiation into the first and second waveguide and a secondelectromagnetic radiation source for propagating TE mode electromagneticradiation into the first and second waveguide.

Viewed from a still further aspect the present invention provides anoptical fibre network incorporating one or more assemblies ashereinbefore defined. Preferably the optical fibre network is an opticalfibre communications network. Preferably the optical fibre network is amultichannel network e.g. a multiplexing multichannel network such as adense wavelength division multiplexing multichannel network.

The integration of the components of the system or assembly of theinvention into existing networks is within the capability of the skilledman. For example, in the telecommunications industry, lasers arefrequently integrated onto indium phoshpide substrates and it is astraightforward matter to integrate thereon components of the system ofthe invention. For example, the planar waveguides of the laminatestructure may be grown in situ using for example known techniques suchas MOCVD techniques.

Viewed from a yet further aspect the present invention provides a methodfor monitoring the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation comprising:

-   -   (A) providing a system as hereinbefore defined;    -   (B) propagating electromagnetic radiation of a first wavelength        into the first waveguide and the second waveguide in the        laminate structure;    -   (C) measuring a first measurable response and/or a second        measurable response or the first measurable response relative to        the second measurable response; and    -   (D) relating the measured first measurable response and/or        measured second measurable response or the measured first        measurable response relative to the second measurable response        to a change in the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation        from the first wavelength to a second wavelength.

In a preferred embodiment, step (C) comprises: measuring a firstmeasurable response relative to a second measurable response. Relativemeasurements advantageously have a lower uncertainty value than absolutemeasurements due to the limited precision with which a measuring means(e.g. the diode array) may be positioned.

In a preferred embodiment, step (C) comprises:

-   -   (C1) generating a pattern of interference fringes; and    -   (C2) measuring a movement in the interference fringes; and        step (D) comprises:    -   relating the movement in the interference pattern to a change in        the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation from the first        wavelength to a second wavelength.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, step (C) further comprises: (C3)calculating the phase shift in the first waveguide relative to the phaseshift in the second waveguide (“the relative phase shift”) from themovement in the interference fringes;

and step (D) comprises:

-   -   relating the relative phase shift to the change in the        wavelength of electromagnetic radiation from a first wavelength        to a second wavelength.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, step (D) comprises:

-   -   (E) generating an adjustment signal dependent on the movement in        the interference pattern measured in step C2 (or the relative        phase shift calculated in step C3);    -   (F) applying the adjustment signal to the source of        electromagnetic radiation whereby to adjust the wavelength of        the electromagnetic radiation from the second wavelength to the        first wavelength.

Step (E) may be carried out by a comparator which generates anadjustment signal dependent on the magnitude and/or direction of themovement in the interference pattern (or preferably of the relativephase shift).

Step (F) may be carried out thermo-optically. For example, aconventional temperature controller may be used to thermo-optically tunethe source of electromagnetic radiation. Step (F) may be carried out byadjusting the electromagnetic radiation source current using (forexample) a tuning element such as a tunable filter (e.g. Bragg gratingfilter).

In an embodiment of the invention, step (D) comprises: deducing thewavelength shift from the measured first measurable response and/ormeasured second measurable response or the measured first measurableresponse relative to the second measurable response.

In a preferred embodiment, step (B) comprises: propagating TM modeelectromagnetic radiation of a first wavelength into the first waveguideand the second waveguide and/or propagating TE mode electromagneticradiation of a first wavelength into the first waveguide and the secondwaveguide.

Viewed from a yet still further aspect the present invention providesthe use of a plurality of waveguides (e.g. planar waveguides) assembledinto a laminate structure for monitoring the wavelength ofelectromagnetic radiation, said plurality of waveguides including: afirst waveguide capable of exhibiting a first measurable response to achange in the wavelength of the incident electromagnetic radiation and asecond waveguide capable of exhibiting a second measurable response tothe change in the incident electromagnetic radiation, wherein the firstmeasurable response is different to the second measurable response.

The system of the invention may also be used to monitor changes in thepower of incident electromagnetic radiation and (if desired) restore thepower to an original level.

Thus viewed from an even still further aspect the present inventionprovides a method for monitoring the power of incident electromagneticradiation comprising:

-   -   (A) providing a system as hereinbefore defined;    -   (B) propagating electromagnetic radiation of a first power into        the first waveguide and the second waveguide in the laminate        structure;    -   (C) measuring a change in the power of the output        electromagnetic radiation of the first waveguide and/or a change        in the power of the output electromagnetic radiation of the        second waveguide or the change in the power of the output        electromagnetic radiation of the first waveguide relative to the        change in the power of the output electromagnetic radiation of        the second waveguide; and    -   (D) relating the change in the power of the output        electromagnetic radiation of the first waveguide and/or the        change in the power of the output electromagnetic radiation of        the second waveguide or the change in the power of the output        electromagnetic radiation of the first waveguide relative to the        change in the power of the output electromagnetic radiation of        the second waveguide to a change in the power of the incident        electromagnetic radiation from the first power to a second        power.

In a preferred embodiment, step (D) comprises:

-   -   (E) generating an adjustment signal dependent on the        measurements made in step (C);    -   (F) applying the adjustment signal to the source of incident        electromagnetic radiation whereby to adjust the power of the        incident electromagnetic radiation from the second power to the        first power.

Step (E) may be carried out by a comparator which generates anadjustment signal dependent on the magnitude and/or direction of thechange in the power of the output electromagnetic radiation (orpreferably of the relative change in the power of the outputelectromagnetic radiation).

In step (F), the power of the incident electromagnetic radiation may beadjusted by changing the laser diode current.

Viewed from an even yet still further aspect the present inventionprovides a process for measuring the wavelength of electromagneticradiation, said process comprising:

-   -   providing a system as hereinbefore defined;    -   propagating the electromagnetic radiation into the first        waveguide and the second waveguide in the laminate structure;    -   generating a pattern of interference fringes; and    -   calculating the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation from        the spacing of the interference fringes.

The process of the invention may further comprise the steps of:

-   -   measuring a change in the spacing of the interference fringes        and calculating the change in wavelength of the electromagnetic        radiation.

Generally speaking, the spacing of interference fringes is governed bythe free space wavelength of the propagating radiation and thegeometrical relationship governing the spacing of the two “sources” andthe distance to the measuring plane. For example, close to the imagecentroid, the spacing a is given approximately by the simple formula:a=λs/d(where λ is the free space wavelength, s is the distance between thetwin source midpoint and the measuring plane and d is the transverseseparation of the sources). The source separation in the assembly isgoverned by the design parameters of the laminate structure and can beclosely controlled. The distance from the source midpoint to themeasuring plane can also be accurately fixed.

The invention may be exploited for any type of electromagnetic radiationincluding optical, UV, IR, X-rays, microwaves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described in a non-limitative sensewith reference to the accompanying Figures in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a sectional view of first and second waveguidesassembled into a laminate structure in accordance with an embodiment ofthe system of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates schematically an embodiment of the assembly of theinvention; and

FIG. 3 illustrates schematically an embodiment of the assembly of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The characteristics of each of layers 1 to 5 of the laminate structureillustrated in FIG. 1 are as follows: LAYER 1 2 3 4 5 REFRACTIVE INDEX1.457 2.008 1.464 2.008 1.464 THICKNESS (μm) 2.5 0.5 1.5 0.4 2.5

The laminate structure is composed of a combination of thermal oxide,LPCVD silicon nitride and PECVD silicon dioxide. Layers 2 and 4 arecomposed of silicon nitride and act as first and second planarwaveguides separated by a transparent silicon dioxide layer 3. Thelayers 2 and 4 possess the required dimensional asymmetry by virtue oftheir different thicknesses. Layer 5 is a capping layer isolating layer4 from the environment. The layers 1 to 5 are built onto a siliconsubstrate 6.

A calculation was carried out on the laminate structure of FIG. 1 inwhich the wavelength of incident electromagnetic radiation was scannedacross a 0.8 nm span around a central wavelength of 1.55 μm. This wasintended to simulate the channel spacing of 0.4 nm in future DWDMdevices (conventional systems use 0.8 nm spacing). The differencebetween the effective refractive index change seen in the zeroth orderor first order modes is calculated for each of the TE and TMpolarisation.

TE modes|ΔTE ₀ −ΔTE ₁=9.01E ⁻⁶TM modes|ΔTM ₀ −ΔTM ₁|=10.34E ⁻⁶

In a system of typical length 5 mm, this would correspond to awavelength sensitivity of approximately 228 mrad/nm for TE and 262mrad/nm for TM. Thus the system could keep tunable sources on track verystraightforwardly. If it is proposed to detect shifts of 5 mrad, awavelength shift of 22 pm would be resolvable. Further optimisation maybring this down to the single picometer level.

FIG. 2 illustrates schematically an embodiment of the assembly of theinvention designated generally by reference numeral 1 in which thelaminate structure 2 is fabricated onto a silicon substrate 3 togetherwith a photodiode array 4 to form a unit 7. The laminate structure istypically of the type described above with reference to FIG. 1. Anoptical fibre which is part of a network of optical fibres isoperatively connected to the unit 7 by a fibre pigtail 5. The unit 7provides electrical output 6 which may be used (for example) in afeedback loop to control the source of electromagnetic radiation asdescribed below.

FIG. 3 illustrates schematically an embodiment of the assembly of theinvention 1 in which the unit 7 described above with reference to FIG. 2retains the same reference numerals. The assembly 1 further comprises alaser 11 providing rear facet emission of electromagnetic radiation 15.The electrical output 6 from the unit 7 is fed into a calculating means12 which calculates a relative phase shift between the first and secondplanar waveguides and feeds this information to a comparator 13. Thecomparator 13 compares the relative phase shift with a set point anddepending on the magnitude and direction of the relative phase shiftfeeds an adjustment signal to a temperature controller 14. Thecontroller 14 tunes the wavelength of the laser emission so that therelative phase shift reduces until the original phase position isrestored.

While this invention has been described with reference to certainspecific embodiments and examples, it will be recognized by thoseskilled in the art that many variations are possible without departingfrom the scope and spirit of this invention, and that the invention, asdescribed by the claims, is intended to cover all changes andmodifications of the invention which do not depart from the spirit ofthe invention. Although some embodiments are shown to include certainfeatures, the inventors specifically contemplate that any featuredisclosed herein may be used together or in combination with any otherfeature on any embodiment of the invention. It is also contemplated thatany feature may be specifically excluded from any embodiment of aninvention.

1. A system for monitoring the wavelength of incident electromagneticradiation comprising: a plurality of waveguides assembled into alaminate structure, said plurality of waveguides including: a firstwaveguide capable of exhibiting a first measurable response to a changein the wavelength of the incident electromagnetic radiation and a secondwaveguide capable of exhibiting a second measurable response to thechange in the incident electromagnetic radiation, wherein the firstmeasurable response is different to the second measurable response; anda measuring means for measuring the first measurable response and/or thesecond measurable response or the first measurable response relative tothe second measurable response.
 2. A system as claimed in claim 1comprising: a plurality of planar waveguides assembled into a laminatestructure, said plurality of planar waveguides including: a first planarwaveguide capable of exhibiting a first measurable response to a changein the wavelength of the incident electromagnetic radiation and a secondplanar waveguide capable of exhibiting a second measurable response tothe change in the incident electromagnetic radiation, wherein the firstmeasurable response is different to the second measurable response.
 3. Asystem as claimed in claim 2 wherein each planar waveguide is a slabwaveguide.
 4. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the measuring meansis adapted to measure the first measurable response relative to thesecond measurable response.
 5. A system as claimed in claim 1 whereinthe dispersion characteristics of the first waveguide are of differentmagnitude to the dispersion characteristics of the second waveguide. 6.A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein a dielectric property of thefirst waveguide is of different magnitude to the dielectric property ofthe second waveguide.
 7. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein themeasuring means is adapted to measure the first measurable responserelative to the second measurable response as a movement of fringes inan interference pattern.
 8. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein themeasuring means is adapted to measure a change in the power of theoutput electromagnetic radiation of the first waveguide and/or a changein the power of the output electromagnetic radiation of the secondwaveguide or a change in the power of the output electromagneticradiation of the first waveguide relative to a change in the power ofthe output electromagnetic radiation of the second waveguide.
 9. Asystem as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: generating means forgenerating an adjustment signal dependent on the measured firstmeasurable response and/or the measured second measurable response or onthe measured first measurable response relative to the second measurableresponse
 10. A system as claimed in claim 9 further comprising: anapplying means for applying the adjustment signal to the source ofincident electromagnetic radiation whereby to restore the wavelength ofthe incident electromagnetic radiation.
 11. A system as claimed in claim10 wherein the applying means is a temperature controller or a tunablefilter element.
 12. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the laminatestructure is fabricated with dimensional and/or compositional asymmetryso as to render the dispersion characteristics of the first waveguidedifferent to the second waveguide.
 13. A system as claimed in claim 12wherein the first and second waveguide differ in their compositionand/or dimension.
 14. A system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the firstand second waveguide differ in their thickness.
 15. A system as claimedin claim 1 wherein the plurality of waveguides and the measuring meansare assembled onto a common substrate.
 16. An assembly comprising: anelectromagnetic radiation source; and a system as defined in claim 1whereby the electromagnetic radiation source is adapted to propagateincident electromagnetic radiation into the first and second waveguideof the laminate structure.
 17. An assembly as claimed in claim 16further comprising: one or more optical fibres operatively connected tothe system and to the electromagnetic source.
 18. An assembly as claimedin claim 17 wherein the one or more optical fibres are operativelyconnected to the system by a fibre pigtail.
 19. An assembly as claimedin claim 17 wherein the one or more optical fibres are part of anoptical fibre network.
 20. An assembly as claimed in claim 19 whereinthe optical fibre network is a multichannel network.
 21. An assembly asclaimed in claim 19 wherein the optical fibre network is a multiplexingmultichannel network
 22. An assembly as claimed in 21 wherein themultiplexing multichannel network is a dense wavelength divisionmultiplexing multichannel network.
 23. An optical fibre networkincorporating one or more assemblies as defined in claim
 16. 24. Anoptical fibre network as claimed in claim 23 being an optical fibrecommunications network.
 25. An optical fibre network as claimed in claim23 being a multichannel network.
 26. An optical fibre network as claimedin claim 25 being a multiplexing multichannel network.
 27. An opticalfibre network as claimed in claim 26 being a dense wavelength divisionmultiplexing multichannel network.
 28. A method for monitoring thewavelength of electromagnetic radiation comprising: (A) providing asystem as defined in claim 1; (B) propagating electromagnetic radiationof a first wavelength into the first waveguide and the second waveguidein the laminate structure; (C) measuring a first measurable responseand/or a second measurable response or the first measurable responserelative to the second measurable response; and (D) relating themeasured first measurable response and/or measured second measurableresponse or the measured first measurable response relative to thesecond measurable response to a change in the wavelength of theelectromagnetic radiation from the first wavelength to a secondwavelength.
 29. A method as claimed in claim 28 wherein step (C)comprises: measuring a first measurable response relative to a secondmeasurable response.
 30. A method as claimed in claim 28 wherein step(C) comprises: (C1) generating a pattern of interference fringes; and(C2) measuring a movement in the interference fringes; and step (D)comprises: relating the movement in the interference pattern to a changein the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation from the firstwavelength to the second wavelength.
 31. A method as claimed in claim 30wherein step (C) further comprises: (C3) calculating the phase shift inthe first waveguide relative to the phase shift in the second waveguidefrom the movement in the interference fringes; and step (D) comprises:relating the relative phase shift to the change in the wavelength ofelectromagnetic radiation from the first wavelength to the secondwavelength.
 32. A method as claimed in claim 30 wherein step (D)comprises: (E) generating an adjustment signal dependent on the movementin the interference pattern measured in step C2; (F) applying theadjustment signal to the source of electromagnetic radiation whereby toadjust the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation from the secondwavelength to the first wavelength.
 33. A method as claimed in claim 32wherein step (F) is carried out thermo-optically or using a tunableBragg grating filter.
 34. A method as claimed in claim 28 wherein step(B) comprises: propagating TM mode electromagnetic radiation of a firstwavelength into the first waveguide and the second waveguide and/orpropagating TE mode electromagnetic radiation of a first wavelength intothe first waveguide and the second waveguide.
 35. A method formonitoring the power of incident electromagnetic radiation comprising:(A) providing a system as defined in claim 1; (B) propagatingelectromagnetic radiation of a first power into the first waveguide andthe second waveguide in the laminate structure; (C) measuring a changein the power of the output electromagnetic radiation of the firstwaveguide and/or a change in the power of the output electromagneticradiation of the second waveguide or the change in the power of theoutput electromagnetic radiation of the first waveguide relative to thechange in the power of the output electromagnetic radiation of thesecond waveguide; and (D) relating the change in the power of the outputelectromagnetic radiation of the first waveguide and/or the change inthe power of the output electromagnetic radiation of the secondwaveguide or the change in the power of the output electromagneticradiation of the first waveguide relative to the change in the power ofthe output electromagnetic radiation of the second waveguide to a changein the power of the incident electromagnetic radiation from the firstpower to a second power.
 36. A method as claimed in claim 35 whereinstep (D) comprises: (E) generating an adjustment signal dependent on themeasurements made in step (C); (F) applying the adjustment signal to thesource of incident electromagnetic radiation whereby to adjust the powerof the incident electromagnetic radiation from the second power to thefirst power.
 37. A process for measuring the wavelength ofelectromagnetic radiation, said process comprising: providing a systemas defined in claim 1; propagating the electromagnetic radiation intothe first waveguide and the second waveguide in the laminate structure;generating a pattern of interference fringes; and calculating thewavelength of the electromagnetic radiation from the spacing of theinterference fringes.
 38. A process as claimed in claim 37 furthercomprising the steps of: measuring a change in the spacing of theinterference fringes; and calculating the change in wavelength of theelectromagnetic radiation.